Shakespeare has a brand new twist within the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fats Ham by James Ijames—at the moment taking part in on Broadway at American Airways Theatre—and a really acquainted face is within the main position. The Neighborhood’s Marcel Spears stars on this modern-day remake of the traditional Hamlet.
“It facilities round a queer Black child within the south named Juicy (Hamlet) who’s making an attempt to navigate his insane household, the mysterious homicide of his father, his mom’s new marriage and a complete host of different challenges that ask everybody that very well-known query, ‘To be or to not be,'” Spears tells EBONY. “I’ve at all times wished to work on the Public Theater in New York Metropolis, so I jumped on the probability to be part of this. That was a transfer from the Public to Broadway!”
Spears understands how Juicy, “is at a spot the place he has the duty of breaking a few of the poisonous cycles and ‘generational curses’ of his household. I positively really feel like that can also be a duty I share,” he says. “Quite a lot of younger persons are discovering their voices and plenty of occasions that work begins proper at house.”
Initially from New Orleans, Spears obtained his classical theater coaching in New York Metropolis. “I’ve been doing theater virtually constantly since leaving grad faculty. The pandemic slowed issues down a bit however, I at all times need to have the possibility to do dwell theater.” Now on Broadway, Fats Ham has been nominated for 5 Tony Awards this 12 months, together with Greatest Play. “That is historic,” Spears declares. “It proves that Black theater is able to taking a present to Broadway. Black theaters have usually needed to do the identical high quality of labor as different regional theaters with much less funding and help, and that is hopefully a step within the path of change.”
Spears’ different stage household, from CBS’ The Neighborhood, is thrilled to help his love of theater. “Cedric the Entertainer, Sheaun McKinney and Lil Hank [Greenspan] have all seen it and so they all cherished it,” he exclaims. “The remainder of the solid is coming in just a few weeks to see the present, and I can’t wait!” Like his stage character Juicy, Marty can also be going by way of a change on the hit TV sitcom, which was simply renewed for a sixth season. “I believe Marty is de facto looking for himself once more. He had some robust setbacks in season 5 so that is his comeback. Perhaps he and Neicie will get again collectively, fingers crossed!”
Fats Ham runs on Broadway by way of June 25, 2023, and Spears already has his sights on the subsequent Shakespeare automobile he’d like to beat. “I’d like to strive my hand at The Comedy of Errors!”
